I knew nothing about sex. My sexuality had been stunted because logic told me that as a poor person I could not afford to get pregnant or diseased. I was gang girl with brass knuckles for both fists. A real tough cookie, but in some ways I was still very naive.

It was my first month working at Show Follies Peepshow Palace. I was 19 and this was my first look at adult sexuality and I was looking through a Plexiglas window and it was looking back at me.

A man would whisper in my direction "I got a diaper on."

And I would laugh, "Oh you're so funny!" Not understanding the man was actually wearing a diaper and was sexually excited by this.

I was starting to become accustom to how things work. Protect your money, give as little as possible, take as much as possible, don't touch other people's wigs, lipstick, or boyfriends.

The girls took a liking to me. They had names like Pebbles, Snowy, CoCo, and Star. Just like all the prostitutes and clowns I had ever seen on television! This was exciting! I even changed my name. I became Domino. Like the sugar. Like the game. Domino.

They talked me into buying a wig to cover my shaved head. The first time I put it on, they fought in the dressing room over how shitty it looked and who would help me fix it.

I had never had hair and knew nothing about looking like a woman. When I was about to break down in tears, Snowy dropped a tiger striped barrette in the damn thing and sent me out to my booth.

I want you to understand there is a lot of competition between these women. Everyone wants to look the best and make the most money. I must have looked pretty fucking pathetic for everyone to chip in and try to make me look like a woman.

Later that night Snowy showed me how to roll the wig up and turn it inside out to keep it from getting tangled. Once she had set it so nice, I never once took the barrette out or combed it. The wig developed dreadlocks on the underside. It got nasty. One day I just threw it in the trash on the corner of 47th Street and bought a new one.

I am a woman now and I've seen thousands of men jerk off. They were all slightly shielded by that layer of Plexiglas that separates a live peepshow girl from her client. It was interesting to see the various techniques the men used. The thumb at the topside of the penis shaft and the hand wrapped around like a fist. Most times they would use a smooth, constant pumping action and then end with a few fast strokes. Others got a bit more spastic.

When they would erupt - the sperm - the spunk would sometimes billow out the little hole and roll down their hand. Other times it would shoot straight out and melt down the glass... It was like lava to me. It really scared me.

They would wipe their hands and penis on their shirttails and tuck them back in to their pants, as though nothing had happened.